One of Canada's young heroes accepting an honour on behalf of all Canadian Troops. He is carrying on in his family tradition on behalf of all Canadians.
As his proud soldier-father looked on, a Canadian private received a prestigious medal on behalf of all NATO soldiers at the 44th Munich Conference on Security Policy in Germany Saturday.
Pte. Michael O'Rourke accepted the Peace Through Dialogue Medal which has been awarded by the conference each year since 2005 to honour outstanding contributions to international peace and security.
In receiving the medal O'Rourke joins the EU's foreign policy chief Javier Solana, U.S. Senator John McCain, who's vying for the Republican presidential nomination, and former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan.
The 23-year-old private, who is from The First Battalion of The Royal Canadian Regiment at CFB Petawawa, Ont., added I'm very proud and honoured.
It means everything almost. It's a once in a lifetime chance to represent not only my country alone but the other countries that belong to NATO, O'Rourke told The Canadian Press in an interview from Munich Saturday.
It was the first time O'Rourke returned to Germany where he was born when his father was stationed there in the 1980s. His father, Kevin O'Rourke, who now is the base chief warrant officer for CFB Petawawa, escorted him to the conference.
As a father, of course, I'm very proud... His involvement in Operation Medusa led to his awarding of the Medal of (Military) Valour which is one of the highest honours a soldier can receive. So as a soldier I'm also proud, said Kevin O'Rourke.
NATO requested that a Canadian soldier accept the medal on its behalf this year, its Year of the NCO. The Canadian Forces chose O'Rourke, who previously received Canada's Medal of Military Valour in 2006 for braving enemy fire to assist in the treatment and evacuation of his fellow soldiers trapped in a disabled vehicle during Operation Medusa in Afghanistan.
Twice crossing through sustained enemy fire, Pte. O'Rourke returned effective fire and successfully assisted in the evacuation of the injured or killed personnel, his citation said. His brave and professional actions saved lives.
Father and son said they served back to back tours of duty in Afghanistan which had Michael's sister Katelyn and mother Kim on edge.
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Nil Sine labore
Robby
